Federal grants will hire more police in Seattle, other cities

SEATTLE — Grants from the U.S. Justice Department are helping police departments across the state hire officers.

The Community Oriented Policing Services program says that nationally, $125 million is being awarded to hire nearly 1,000 officers. In Washington, Seattle is getting the most — $1.25 million to pay for 10 officers.

The city of Auburn will be able to hire five additional officers. Departments that will get one officer apiece are the Asotin City Police Department, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Port Angeles Police Department, the Quincy Police Department, the Spokane Police Department and the Sequim School District.

Seattle U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said every additional officer on the street helps community safety. She said the addition of school resource officers in smaller communities like Sequim and Asotin City can improve the lives of hundreds of young people.

The departments awarded grants this year were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. Since 1995, COPS has awarded more than $14 billion to advance community policing.